Best of our wild blogs: 19 Aug 15

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrates wildlife with a “Wow Wild West!” festival over four weekends
Otterman speaks

Haze chokehold spurring efforts to save Indonesia’s forests
Mongabay Simon Pollock

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Population issue dominates political dialogue at NUSS

Representatives from nine Opposition parties and the ruling People's Action Party take part in a dialogue hosted by the National University of Singapore Society.
Kimberly Spykerman, News 5 and Leong Wai Kit, News 5 Channel NewsAsia 18 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE: A debate on Singapore's population dominated a political dialogue event organised by the National University of Singapore Society on Tuesday evening (Aug 18).

Representatives from nine opposition parties and the People's Action Party (PAP) spent about a quarter of the two-and-a-half-hour event debating the issue, after a member of the audience asked them what issues they felt would surface during the upcoming General Election.

Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam kicked off the debate by identifying population issues as the likely main concern, in particular, the inflow of foreign workers.

"Because even though the PAP talked about having curbed the worker inflow, it's the basis of their model. They really know nothing else. The Prime Minister put it beautifully - he said the EP (employment pass) growth has been maxed out. So when we talk about it slowing down, it's really a by-product of the global slowdown," Mr Jeyaretnam said.

"Our economy is teetering on the brink of a recession. In fact, the election is being called now because it will be in a recession by December," he said. He believed that once growth picked up again, so would the inflow of foreign workers.

People's Power Party chief Goh Meng Seng also described population as the "mother of all problems for Singaporeans".

He said he understood the need for foreign labour, given Singapore's ageing population. And he said that this ageing population brings about two problems: Retirement financing and healthcare financing.

"However, what the PAP did was, they brought in the foreign labour, but did they contribute to these two? Did they contribute to Medishield Life, CPF Life? No. What do they contribute to? Workers' levy. And who benefited? GLCs (Government-linked companies), MNCs (multinational corporations), but the elderly aren't benefiting. That is the key problem of the whole structure," Mr Goh said.

Responding to Mr Goh, PAP representative Sim Ann said it was important to have an accurate understanding of the issues.

Ms Sim, who is also Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information, said: "Mr Goh Meng Seng talked about the ’mother of all problems’. I don't quite like to use that term because I think that if you want to look at the sources of our worries - I think that's a better term – what we are being faced with is the fact that none of us is getting any younger. We are a very rapidly ageing population.

"Like many East Asian societies, we do have a very worrying long-term trend of fertility rates. So the question then is how do we continue the kind of economic activity that's going to support a lot of the services and amenities that Singaporeans have come to enjoy and expect, and in fact hope to see more of.”

Singaporeans First party chief Tan Jee Say said that topics which had surfaced in the last General Election, such as transport, housing, hospitals and foreign workers, were linked by a common issue - the "massive" influx of foreign workers.

"That problem remains. You may say that the Prime Minister is moderating the growth. But growth there is. It is only a tactical withdrawal of this foreign policy. Employers are unhappy but they live with it, the election is coming. Once this election is over, and the economy doesn't slow down drastically, the supply of foreign workers will continue to increase," Mr Tan said.

"And that is the political agenda of the Government, of the PAP. They have not forgotten the Population White Paper. They are still talking of 6.9 million [people] by 2030. And they will do it. They will go all out to achieve it because there is a political agenda behind all these population issues.

"Politically, new citizens tend to vote for the Government of the day," Mr Tan said.

In response, Ms Sim said it did not make sense for the Government to try and import foreigners simply because of political allegiance.

"If you look at the numbers, it doesn't work out at all. It doesn't work out at all. Singaporeans - born and bred Singaporeans - remain the majority of the electorate. And if we are not doing all these things for the betterment of Singaporeans ... what are we doing it for?" she said.

Ms Sim said she joined the then-National Population Secretariat in the middle of 2009.

"By the end of 2009, we had already begun to reduce the number of new PRs and new citizens, as well as begun the tightening of foreign manpower very, very significantly."

And she emphasised that a 6.9-million population has never been a target.

Ms Sim added: "I know with my heart that this is a Government that has staked everything on serving Singaporeans. We have just seen off Mr Lee Kuan Yew a few months ago and I think many of us have gone back and reviewed the journey that he has brought us on ever since 1965 when we were forced to become independent. And we have to find our own way in life. This Government has always put Singaporeans front and centre."

AHPETC, AGO REPORT DISCUSSED

Other issues raised at the dialogue include the separate Auditor-General's Office (AGO) reports on the Workers' Party run Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East (AHPETC) Town Council and also on lapses found at various Government agencies.

"Let's compare the reactions. In the case of the AGO audit which happens regularly of government agencies - I would say the government agencies' reactions have been swift," said Ms Sim.
"The agencies have owned up to lapses, they have owned up to cases where there was non-compliance and they have taken action very swiftly to rectify whatever has been pointed out. I think in the case of AHPETC, I think what we've been hearing are fairly lengthy - I don't want to say excuses, that doesn't sound very nice - explanations which I also don't fully understand. If you were to ask about money then I would say in the case of the AGO audit, all the monies we've been talking about has been accounted for, and no money is lost. But in the case of AHPETC, I'm not too sure," she said.

"I wish more answers had been forthcoming from AHPETC and then I think we would have wasted much less time on the issue and the population will be much the wiser," Ms Sim added.

In response, The Workers' Party representative Gerald Giam, who is a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, said that town council chairman Sylvia Lim, as well as the elected MPs who are town councillors, "all spoke, all explained various aspects of the report" during a two-day debate in Parliament.

He said that this was in addition to "numerous other press statements", "open letters to residents" and door-to-door explanations.

"I think we have done a lot of explaining already. And just because the PAP does not want to accept our explanations does not mean we haven't explained," said Mr Giam. "We have explained every point that has been brought up which demands an explanation and we have spared no effort in that. And with the coming election, I'm sure this issue will be raised up by the PAP and we will respond if we need to."

Other representatives at the dialogue include Mr Benjamin Pwee from the Democratic Progressive Party, Mr Steve Chia from the National Solidarity Party, Mr Harminder Pal Singh from the Singapore Democratic Alliance, Prof Paul Tambyah representing the Singapore Democratic Party and Mrs Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss from the Singapore People's Party.

- CNA/hs

Population still hot-button issue
Tan Tam Mei, New Paper AsiaOne 22 Aug 15;

Singapore's population and 2013's Population White Paper dominated the discussion and took up much of the forum's originally allotted 2½ hours.

This happened after Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam identified the inflow of foreign workers as a major issue facing Singaporeans.

He was responding to a question from the audience on what the various parties were going to tackle in the upcoming General Election. People's Power Party chief Goh Meng Seng described population growth as the "mother of all problems for Singaporeans", which was met with applause from the audience.

The increased population did nothing to alleviate the worries of retirement planning and affordable healthcare, he said.

Singaporeans First party chief Tan Jee Say was more harsh and said that issues of transport, housing, hospitals and foreign workers, were all a result of the "massive" influx of foreign workers.

"(The People's Action Party) have not forgotten the Population White Paper. They are still talking of 6.9 million (people) by 2030. And they will do it. They will go all out to achieve it because there is a political agenda behind all these population issues," said Mr Tan.

AGENDA

He then accused the PAP of importing foreigners as part of a political agenda because "new citizens tend to vote for the Government of the day".

It provoked a war of words with PAP's representative, Ms Sim Ann, who is Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information.

Ms Sim, who was part of the then-National Population Secretariat, refuted Mr Tan's claims, saying that the White Paper was a planning parameter in response to the rapidly ageing population.

She said: "If you look at the numbers, it doesn't work out at all. It does not make sense for the Government to import foreigners for their political allegiance.

"Singaporeans, born and bred Singaporeans, remain the majority of the electorate."

She added that the number of new citizens and PRs was already reduced in 2009.

She also said: "6.9 million (people) is not a target, it is not a stretch scenario - it is a very, very controlled scenario in which we have to restrain ourselves and in a very disciplined way."

Party reps fight it out

The dialogue also saw the locking of horns between the Workers' Party's (WP) representative Gerald Giam and the People's Action Party's (PAP) representative Sim Ann.

That happened when the moderator, former Nominated MP Viswa Sadasivan, posed a question to Mr Giam about what he wished could have been different about the debate over Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council's (AHPETC's) financial issues.

Mr Giam argued that despite the lapses, AHPETC did not short-change residents and WP leaders "all spoke, all explained various aspects of the report" during a two-day debate in Parliament.

"I think we have done a lot of explaining already. And just because the PAP does not want to accept our explanations does not mean we haven't explained," said Mr Giam.

"With the coming election, I'm sure this issue will be raised up by the PAP and we will respond if we need to."

PEOPLE'S MINDS

Mr Giam also said that the PAP wanted to "insert" into people's minds that the WP was not capable of running a town council.

PAP's Ms Sim shot back, saying that the WP had not fully answered about lapses highlighted by the Auditor-General's Office's (AGO) audit, in contrast to "government agencies' reactions (that) have been swift" in rectifying the lapses.

She said: "I think what we've been hearing are fairly lengthy - I don't want to say excuses, that doesn't sound very nice - explanations which I also don't fully understand.

"If you were to ask about money, then I would say in the case of the AGO audit, all the monies we've been talking about has been accounted for, and no money is lost. But in the case of AHPETC, I'm not too sure."

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PUB not obliged to pay higher land tax on Johor waterworks: Shanmugam

SIAU MING EN Today Online 18 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE — National water agency PUB is not obliged to pay the higher land assessment tax that the Johor authorities are seeking to levy on Singapore’s waterworks in Kota Tinggi, and the issue has been raised with Malaysian leaders, said Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.

The Kota Tinggi District Council issued a notice late last year that sought to double the rate of the land assessment tax imposed on the Johor River Water Works, Singapore’s Parliament was told today (Aug 18). The revised rate is more than twice that of the next highest rate, added Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister.

The facility extracts and treats up to 250 million gallons of water a day from the river, in accordance with terms set out under the 1962 water agreement between the two countries.

Mr Shanmugam also said the assessed property value of the waterworks was increased and the new rate was applied to a category that was “created solely for the PUB”.

Responding to a question from Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC, on the status of the land assessment tax applicable to the PUB’s waterworks in Johor, Mr Shanmugam said: “The PUB’s operations in Johor are governed by the 1962 Water Agreement. That agreement governs what the PUB has to pay, and the PUB is not obliged to pay the land assessment tax that has been sought to be imposed.”

Under the 1962 water agreement — which expires in 2061 — Singapore buys raw water from Malaysia and, in turn, Malaysia buys treated water from the Republic.

Mr Shanmugam added: “There is some additional background on the Johor authorities imposing such taxes in the past. For present purposes, I do not propose to go into what had happened in the past.”

On the latest tax assessments, Mr Shanmugam said the Foreign Ministry had registered its concerns through two Third-Person Notes. The PUB has also contacted the Kota Tinggi District Council on the issue, he said.

In addition, Mr Shanmugam said he had also raised the matter with his Malaysian counterpart, Mr Anifah Aman, on two occasions, in April and August.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke directly to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in May, he added.

Mr Shanmugam noted that Malaysia is aware that the issue of the PUB’s rights under the water agreement is “critical and sensitive” for Singapore.

“The Malaysian federal government has guaranteed in the Separation Agreement that Johor would abide by the 1962 water agreement, and the agreement does not require the payment of this land tax. We have requested the Malaysian federal government to address the issue,” he said.

The Malaysian federal government has indicated that it will work with the Johor state government to address Singapore’s concerns, Mr Shanmugam added.

Singapore notified Malaysia of concern over land tax hike for Johor River Waterworks: Shanmugam
PUB's operations in Johor are governed by the 1962 Water Agreement which does not require the water agency to pay the land tax says Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 18 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB does not need to pay the revised land assessment tax imposed on the Johor River Waterworks by the Kota Tinggi District Council, said Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 18).

The PUB-owned facility in the Kota Tinggi district of Johor, draws and treats water from the Johor River. In response to a question by MP Sitoh Yih Pin, Mr Shanmugam said in late 2014, the Kota Tinggi District Council sought to double the rate of land assessment tax and the revised rate was more than double that of the next highest rate in the entire district.

However the PUB's operations in Johor are governed by what is agreed according to the 1962 Water Agreement, and the agreement does not require PUB to pay this land tax, Mr Shanmugam stated. Furthermore, the Malaysian Federal Government had guaranteed in the Separation Agreement of 1965 that Johor will abide by the 1962 Water Agreement, the minister said.

Mr Shanmugam shared that his ministry has registered its concern on the latest tax assessments with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. PUB has also been in touch with the Kota Tinggi District Council on the matter.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong brought up this issue with his Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in May this year. Mr Shanmugam added that he broached this issue with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister, Anifah Aman, twice - once in April this year, and most recently, on Aug 4.

He said the Malaysian government has indicated it would work with the Johor state government to address the issue.

- CNA/kk

Shanmugam: PUB not obliged to pay new land tax on Johor Water Works
AsiaOne 19 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE - The Public Utilities Board (PUB) does not need to pay the revised land assessment tax that the Kota Tinggi District Council had sought to impose on the PUB-owned Johor River Water Works, Foreign Minister K Shanmugam told Parliament today.


The district council issued a notice late last year that sought to double the rate of land assessment tax imposed on the PUB-owned facility, which draws and treats water from the Johor River. According to Mr Shanmugam, who was responding to a question by Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin, the revised rate was more than double that of the next highest rate in the entire Kota Tinggi district.

"The water works' assessed property value was also increased. The new rate was applied to a category which was created solely for the PUB," Mr Shanmugam said.

However, he said that under the 1962 Water Agreement between Singapore and Johor, the PUB "is not obliged to pay the land assessment tax which has been sought to be imposed".

"There is some additional background on the Johor authorities imposing such taxes, in the past. For present purposes, I do not propose to go into what had happened in the past," Mr Shanmugam said.

The 1962 Water Agreement governs the PUB's operations in Johor, and is valid till 2061.

Mr Shanmugam added that Singapore has registered its concerns regarding the latest tax assessments.

"My ministry has done so with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through two Third Person Notes. The PUB has got in touch with the Kota Tinggi District Council on the same. I have also raised this issue directly with my Malaysian counterpart, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, twice, in April 2015 and on August 4, 2015. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke directly to Prime Minister Najib Razak in May of this year," he said.

"We have requested the Malaysian Federal Government to address the issue. The Federal Government has indicated that it would work with the Johor State Government to address our concerns."


PUB not obliged to pay tax on Johor waterworks
Wong Siew Ying Straits Times AsiaOne 19 Aug 15;

National water agency PUB is not obliged to pay land assessment tax on its Johor River Waterworks, Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament yesterday.

This is because PUB's operations in Johor are governed by the 1962 Water Agreement, which governs what PUB has to pay, he said.

He was responding to a question by Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir), who had asked about the status of the tax, which the Kota Tinggi District Council had sought to impose, and whether there had been any recent developments.

PUB owns Johor River Waterworks, located in the Kota Tinggi district of Johor. It extracts and treats water from the Johor River, in accordance with the 1962 Water Agreement. This agreement is valid till 2061 and is guaranteed by the governments of Singapore and Malaysia in the 1965 Separation Agreement.

Mr Shanmugam said that late last year, the Kota Tinggi District Council issued a notice which sought to double the rate of land assessment tax imposed on Waterworks. "The revised rate was more than double that of the next highest rate in the entire Kota Tinggi district. The Waterworks' assessed property value was also increased. The new rate was applied to a category which was created solely for the PUB," he said.

He noted that under the 1962 Water Agreement, PUB is not obliged to pay the tax. The agreement gives Singapore the right to draw water from Johor River up to 250 million gallons per day, or 1.14 million cubic m a day, with Johor entitled to a daily supply of treated water in return.

"There is some additional background on the Johor authorities imposing such taxes, in the past," he said. "I do not propose to go into what had happened in the past."

With regard to the latest tax assessments, Singapore has registered its concerns with Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through two Third Person Notes.

PUB has also got in touch with the Kota Tinggi District Council.

Mr Shanmugam told MPs he had raised the issue directly with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman twice - in April and on Aug 4.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had also spoken to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on the subject when they met in May.

Mr Shanmugam said: "Malaysia is aware that the issue of PUB's rights under the Water Agreement is critical and sensitive for us.

"The Malaysian Federal Government has guaranteed in the Separation Agreement that Johor would abide by the 1962 Water Agreement. The agreement does not require a payment of this land tax."

Singapore has requested Malaysia to address the issue.

"The Federal Government has indicated that it would work with the Johor State Government to address our concerns," he said.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/pub-not-obliged-pay-tax-johor-waterworks#sthash.JSyiwFTa.dpuf

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Price of water, unchanged since 2000, not due for an adjustment: MEWR

Given the current state of technology and energy prices, there is no need for an adjustment of water prices at this point, said Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan.
Channel NewsAsia 18 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE: There is currently no need for an adjustment for the price of water in Singapore, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Aug 17).

The price of water has remained unchanged since 2000, and this is as improvements in membrane technology and productivity have helped defray the rise in costs of labour and equipment, said Dr Balakrishnan.

"We should bear in mind that desalination and recycling water are energy-intensive processes. Hence, the key variable for the future is the price of energy. Nonetheless, given the current state of technology and energy prices, there is no need for an adjustment at this point," he added.

Dr Balakrishnan said this in a written response to a question by Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng, who asked about the governing principles used in determining the rates for water and electricity, and about the long-term marginal cost of water.

"The price of potable water in Singapore is pegged to the Long Run Marginal Cost (LRMC) of producing desalinated water and NEWater," said the minister. "Desalination and recycling are the main source of the next available drop of water given our shortage of land. Consequently, the water tariff and Water Conservation Tax reflect the true scarcity value of water."

- CNA/av

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NEA will ensure rat burrows are treated: MEWR

Between September 2013 and January 2014, close to 14,000 burrows were detected in public areas, of which about 2,000 burrows were in areas not managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), according to Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu.
Channel NewsAsia 18 Aug 15;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency will step up efforts to ensure that all detected rat burrows are treated, including considering taking over the treatment of burrows in areas under the purview of other agencies and abutting NEA-managed areas, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu said on Monday (Aug 17).

NEA will also pool resources to tackle infestation that straddles the borders of land under different stakeholders, so as to avoid duplicate efforts, Ms Fu said in a written reply to a Parliamentary question filed by MP Lee Bee Wah.

The Auditor-General’s report, released in July, found gaps in NEA's handling of its rat control programme. NEA's contractors were required to treat burrows in areas under the agency’s charge and not those under other public agencies, resulting in higher overall costs. It also had not sufficiently followed up with the other public agencies to ensure that actions were taken to treat the active burrows detected, the report said.

Ms Fu said on Monday that typically, less than 10 per cent of burrows are detected in NEA-managed land.

Between September 2013 and January 2014, close to 14,000 burrows were detected in public areas, of which about 2,000 burrows were in areas under the purview of other agencies excluding town councils. A total of 115 burrows at non-town council areas were untreated, and 33 remained active or increased in numbers after two to six months, Ms Fu said.

“NEA is also considering other measures to ensure upstream measures to tackle rat infestation are put in place by the respective stakeholders,” she said. “The health and safety of the public remains our top priority. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to keep the rat situation under control.”

- CNA/cy

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Restarted Forest City project ‘meets environmental standards’

ALBERT WAI Today Online 19 Aug 15;

JOHOR BARU — Since restarting reclamation work at the controversial Forest City development in Johor Baru in March after an eight-month hiatus over environmental concerns, readings from monitoring equipment have shown no environmental anomalies, said developer Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV) yesterday.

Meanwhile, a double silt curtain has been installed to minimise the possibility of transboundary pollution affecting Singapore, CGPV said.

Speaking to TODAY in an interview, CGPV executive director Othman Yusof defended the massive reclamation project, saying that initial criticism had arisen from a lack of information and public awareness.

“All the mitigation undertaken (in the development) is very strictly monitored by the Department of Environment (DOE),” he said. “There are 15 sites for water monitoring, where samples are analysed daily and their results submitted to the DOE.”

Mr Othman said all water samples were within the ambient standard, meaning that the samples did not contain more than the maximum amount of pollutants allowed.

“We are quite confident because the quality of the sand that we use for the reclamation is very good,” he said, adding that the sand contains high amounts of nutrients that will benefit the ecology and increase marine life in the area.

Mr Othman also highlighted that CGPV had constructed a double silt curtain that minimises chances of exporting pollutants to Singapore. The double layer construction ensures that if one of the curtains break down, a backup is in place.

The pollutant readings have not been released publicly. But Mr Othman said that if the Singapore authorities want the results so as to better understand the situation, they could approach the DOE.

Reclamation work was put on hold from June last year to March this year following concerns from locals, some of whom fish in the nearby waters for a living. As the project area contained an abundance of seagrass, there were also concerns about possible damage to its marine ecology.

Singapore had also requested from Malaysia all relevant information on reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, in accordance with its obligations under international law and, in particular, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

CGPV was allowed to proceed after conducting a detailed hydraulic study to ensure that water flow to the seagrass would not be disrupted, as well as an EIA. The mixed land-use development was downsized from 1,978ha to 1,386ha, and the design changed from one large island to four smaller ones in order to minimise disturbances to the marine environment.

“We wanted a symbiotic relationship with nature. Once we knew about the seagrass, we knew we had to preserve it,” stressed Mr Othman, adding that the developer had conducted 20 simulation runs of the hydraulics before finalising the modified design of the development.

When asked to comment on the criticisms levelled against the Forest City project, Mr Othman said he felt they were unfair. “Because of lack of information, people came up with their own perceptions of the project.”

He also clarified that the waters adjacent to Forest City were not fishing grounds as initially believed, as they are too shallow.

He explained that due to the sensitive nature of the business information, CGPV could not afford to be completely transparent. “Not all the information can be shared with the public. Maybe that has caused some uneasy feelings,” he said.

“If you look at the project here, it is not just us who started the reclamation. Singapore has done it, especially on the Tuas side, with the heavy industries,” said Mr Othman.

“The spillover effects of the project will also be enjoyed by Singapore. I don’t see this as competing with Singapore, but more of a complement for Malaysia and Singapore.”

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Malaysia: Sungai Johor’s water level drops

NELSON BENJAMIN The Star 19 Aug 15;

JOHOR BARU: The state will keep to its commitment of supplying 250 million gallons of water to Singapore daily despite a drop in the water level in Sungai Johor.

The situation has resulted in a month-long scheduled water distribution exercise in some areas in Johor Baru and Kota Tinggi.

Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad (pic) said under the agreement, the state was supposed to supply that amount until 2061.

“We will be able to meet Singapore’s require­ments despite the drop,” he said in an interview.

Presently, six water treatment plants are extracting water from Sungai Johor.

Hasni said five plants belonged to Syarikat Air Johor while Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) owned the other.

“I hope the RM90mil barrage that we are constructing will help prevent sea water from coming into Sungai Johor which will affect the operations of the plants,” he added.

He hoped cloud seeding efforts would help increase water levels in major water extraction points, including Sungai Johor, Sungai Lebam Dam in Kota Tinggi and Layang Dam in Masai, Pasir Gudang.

Hasni was commenting on the concerns raised by Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan that Linggiu Reservoir in Johor was facing an all-time low in water levels.

The minister said that the reservoir’s water levels had not dropped to that level since it began operations 20 years ago.

The Linggiu Reservoir, operated by PUB, improves the yield of water from Sungai Johor where Singapore imports its water.

Imported water makes up about 60% of the island republic’s total consumption needs.

Meanwhile, Hasni said Universiti Teknologi Malaysia would be asked to carry out a study on the causes of low water levels in Sungai Lebam, Layang Dam and Sungai Linggiu.

“We want to find out the root cause, whether it is due to the weather, project developments or other reasons,” he said.

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Malaysia: Smuggled turtle eggs recovered on Sandakan beach

AWANG ALI OMAR New Straits Times 19 Aug 15;

SANDAKAN: A shipment of turtle eggs believed to have been smuggled from the Philippines were recovered here today.

The 2,600 eggs kept in six plastic bags and two sacks were found on the beach near Kampung Forest where two men were spotted unloading the cargo from a pump boat at about 4am.

Sabah Marine Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Madun said the two men escaped using the pump-boats into the cover of darkness as the patrolling team approached the shore to check on what they were doing.

"Upon checking the team found the turtle eggs which may have been smuggled from southern Philippines and meant to be sold in the market here," he said.

Many Filipinos can be seen selling turtle eggs near the central market and Jalan Pryor here at a cost of about RM1.50 to RM2.00 each.

Possession of turtle eggs in Sabah is an offence punishable under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. If convicted it carries a fine of RM50,000 or jail up to five years or both.

Mohamad said the turtle eggs will be handed over to the State Wildlife Department and attributed the success to information received from the public.

Smugglers leave turtle eggs
The Star 19 Aug 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Marine police seized 2,600 sea turtle eggs when they foiled an attempt by Filipino smugglers to bring them in for the Sandakan market.

Marine Police Region 4 commander Asst Comm Mohamad Madun said two men in a pump boat fled on seeing a marine police patrol boat near the coast of Kampung Forest in Sandakan at about 4am yesterday.

The marine police team found the eggs, valued at about RM3,120, inside two gunny sacks and six plastic bags that was abandoned on the Kampung Forest shore.

Sea turtles are protected. Any­one caught collecting or selling them faces a RM50,000 fine or a maximum jail term of five years or both if found guilty.

‘Futile to re-hatch seized turtle eggs’
The Star 20 Aug 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Trying to re-hatch some 2,600 turtle eggs recently seized during an operation in Sandakan will be futile, said experts.

Marine biologist Ric Owen said this was because turtle eggs were very sensitive and fragile.

“Once hatched by the mother turtle, eggs cannot be tipped upside down or come into contact with sunlight. These have to be kept at a certain temperature to ensure that the embryos don’t die.

“Most of the time when the turtle eggs are poached, they are wrongly handled and almost immediately, the eggs are dead.

“So, unless you’re lucky, the chances of the eggs hatching are zero,” said Owen, who is also a dive operator based in Mabul island, Semporna.

The eggs were seized during an operation along the coastal areas of Kg Forest in Sandakan at about 4am on Tuesday. Two suspects managed to escape when they saw enforcement officers approaching.

Sabah Wildlife director William Baya said the seized eggs were kept at its office, adding that tests would be carried out on the eggs to see if any could be re-hatched.

“It may not be possible as from past expe­riences that I am aware of, no eggs that have been taken out of the nests and seized by enforcement have re-hatched,” he said.

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Norwegian fund excludes four Asian companies over palm oil

Pierre-Henry Deshayes AFP Yahoo News 17 Aug 15;

AFP/AFP/File - Norway's gigantic sovereign wealth fund announced it was divesting from four large Asian companies over the environmental damage their palm oil activities have on tropical forests

Norway's gigantic sovereign wealth fund announced Monday it was divesting from four large Asian companies over the environmental damage their palm oil activities have on tropical forests.

The world's largest public investment fund, managing 7.15 trillion kroner (785 billion euros, $872 billion), said its decision to exclude four groups -- including South Korean group Daewoo International -- from its portfolio was based on "an assessment of the risk of severe environmental damage" from their conversion of tropical forests to cultivate palm oil.

Daewoo, South Korean steelmaker Posco and Malaysian groups Genting and IJM were targeted in the divestment decision by Norway's central bank, which manages the wealth fund that owns around 1.3 percent of all stocks on global equity markets, with stakes in about 9,000 companies.

The fund manages its investments according to strict ethical guidelines that have previously led it to exclude around 60 companies from its holdings, including Airbus, Boeing, Safran, Philip Morris and Wal-Mart.

Under the guidelines, it must avoid investments in groups accused of serious violations of human rights, child labour or serious environmental damage, as well as manufacturers of "particularly inhumane" arms and tobacco firms.

The decisions by the fund -- which draws investment money from Norway's huge oil revenues, a fact that hasn't escaped some detractors -- are frequently replicated by other international investors concerned about ethical perceptions of their holdings.

Palm oil -- used primarily in the cosmetics, food, and bio-fuel sectors -- is a controversial industry, with campaigns mounted by environmental groups and consumers.

Daewoo fell afoul of the fund's managers for its 85-percent stake in an Indonesian company accused of clearing large swathes of the country's tropical forest for palm oil cultivation.

At the end of 2014 the fund owned 0.91 percent of Posco worth $198 million at the end of 2014, and 0.28 percent of Daewoo valued at $9 million.

Its 0.4-percent stake in Genting was worth around $41 million, and its 1.6-percent position in IJM was worth $46 million.

Independently of the ethical guidelines, the fund has in recent years put increasing emphasis on environmental issues in its investments, noting that problems such as deforestation and water management can affect a company's financial viability.

In early 2012, it pulled out of 23 palm oil producers, without naming them.

Indonesia and Malaysia together account for about 80 percent of global production, though the industry is growing rapidly in Africa.

In order to improve practices, palm oil producers, distributors and non-governmental organisations in 2004 created the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an association whose charter bars producers from clearing old-growth forests or other conservation sites for cultivation.

Neither Daewoo nor Posco are members of RSPO. Palm oil represents only a small fraction of Daewoo's and Posco's overall businesses.

"This is a sign that the fund takes the issue very seriously," said Nils Hermann Ranum of campaign group Rainforest Foundation Norway.

Genting and IJM are RSPO members but have been accused of not respecting its guidelines and not being transparent enough.

"This shows that RSPO is archaic when it comes to environmental certification," Ranum said.

"If it still wants to be taken seriously, it needs to tighten up its regulations."

Norway's pension fund is intended to pay for future generations in the welfare-state after the country's oil wells run dry.

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Indonesia: Hot spots on the rise in Riau, says BMKG

Rizal Harahap, thejakartapost.com 18 Aug 15;

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru, Riau, said on Tuesday that after rainfall lasting two weeks, hot weather had again affected the province and caused hot spots to appear.

“Hot spots had recently declined in Riau and it was even free from hot spots after rain showered areas across the province,” said BMKG Pekanbaru head Sugarin on Tuesday.

“Although rain with a low to medium intensity will still potentially fall in Riau, along with strong winds and lightning, from noon until evening, it seems that hot weather will appear again in Riau this week,” he continued.

Based on data from NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites, the BMKG Pekanbaru said there were 20 hot spots spread across four regencies in Riau on Tuesday morning. Indragiri Hulu contained the highest number with 10, followed by Kampar with four hot spots and Kuantan Singingi and Pelalawan with three hot spots each.

“The satellite report indicates that 12 out of the total 20 hot spots are fire spots or land and forest fires, with a certainty level of more than 70 percent. Kampar has three fire spots while Kuantan Singingi and Pelalawan have two fire spots each. Indragiri Hulu has five fire spots,” said Sugarin.

He said rain potential was still quite high, which could help Riau avoid a drastic increase in its number of hot spots. Currently, Jambi had the highest number of hot spots in Sumatra, with 94, followed by 75 in South Sumatra.

In Bangka Belitung, Sugarin added, there were 15 hot spots, while Bengkulu, Lampung and West Sumatra detected three hot spots each. Another hot spot was found in North Sumatra.

“In total, there are 214 hot spots in Sumatra, a sharp increase from 38 hot spots on the previous day,” said Sugarin on Tuesday.

He called on authorities to stay alert regarding hot spot increases as the maximum temperature in several areas in Riau had reached around 32 to 34 degrees Celsius.

“This is why Riau is still prone to land and forest fires. Moreover, dry season in the province is predicted to continue until September,” Sugarin said. (ebf)(+++)

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Drought in Indonesia

NTT prepared for drought, S. Sumatra, C. Sulawesi suffer
Djemi Amnifu and Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post 18 Aug 15;

The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial administration claimed to have anticipated the drought by making various mitigation efforts while several areas in Central Sulawesi and South Sumatra are still suffering from the prolonged dry season.

“We were very prepared for the drought and anticipated the El Niño weather phenomenon, including coordinating with regents and mayors to handle the situation in the fields,” said NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya in a radio and television address as well as in online and print media in Kupang ahead of Indonesia’s 70th Independence Day celebrations on Sunday.

Frans said the NTT Public Works and People’s Housing Office had provided water tankers as well as building artesian wells in regions affected by the drought.

He said the drought so far had not affected food supplies in NTT, and they remained sufficient until now, thanks to the reserves of 200 tons of rice in the province, and 100 tons of rice in regencies and cities stored to anticipate food shortages.

Despite the sufficient food reserves, Frans urged the community in NTT to consume local staples, like maize, which is less favored.

“I call on journalists to promote eating corn, as it doesn’t mean you’re poor. Eating corn does not lower our dignity, but instead raises it, as we eat from the yields of our hard work,” said Frans.

According to Frans, based on data as of April 2015, corn production in NTT increased more than 6,000 tons. By the end of this year, corn production is estimated to have risen more than 7,000 tons.

“That’s just from corn, not to mention beans, tubers and others. We must strengthen our understanding of food because we always think about rice,” he said.

In contrast, 247 hectares of soybean plants have reportedly suffered crop failure in several regencies in South Sumatra due to the drought, Antara reported on Monday.

An official at the province’s Agriculture and Food Plants Agency, M Zuhri, said crop failures happened in Tungkal Ilir district, Banyuasin regency, Sosoh Buay Rayap district, Ogan Komering Ulu regency, and Central Kikim district, Lahat regency.

Zuhri also revealed 483 hectares of corn fields and 434 hectares of paddy farmland had suffered crop failures in the current drought.

Meanwhile, a number of regions in Central Sulawesi, such as Sigi, Palu, Tolitoli and Buol, have been hit by drought.

River levels, in a number of regions in Sigi and Palu have lowered further over the past several days, such as the Palu River, which bisects West Palu and South Palu districts.

The Gumbasa River level in Sigi has also receded but has yet to disrupt water supplies to irrigate rice fields.

However, in a number of areas, water to irrigate farmland has further declined, as farmers in Dolo district, Sigi, are forced to buy water to irrigate their fields.

“If they don’t buy water they would suffer more losses,” said Central Sulawesi Agriculture Office head Tri Lamakampali.

The drought in Central Sulawesi has depleted the wells in residents’ houses in Palu. Housewife Ani, of Besusu subdictrict, East Palu, complained of the depleting water in her well. “However, my house is located near the Palu River,” said Ani.

Bali warned of severe drought
Ni Komang Erviani and Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 19 Aug 15;

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has warned Bali that a severe drought could become widespread on the island, including in some tourist spots, within months.

“Several areas are experiencing drought in many areas in Bali. It could worsen,” BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told journalist in Kuta on Tuesday.

Sutopo said water shortages would become severe in Bali, as well as on Java Island and West and East Nusa Tenggara provinces.

Data from the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) shows that four regencies are experiencing drought: Buleleng in northern Bali, Karangasem in eastern Bali, Klungkung and Bangli.

In Buleleng, drought has hit three subdistricts: Tejakula, Sukasada and Gerokgak. In Karangasem, Kubu, Abang and Karangasem subdistricts have been affected, while in Klungkung, drought has hit Nusa Penida subdistrict, which is made up of three islands: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. In Bangli regency, drought has hit Kintamani and Tembuku.

Hundreds of thousands of people living in those areas are facing difficulty getting clean water for daily use. Hundreds of hectares of rice fields have reportedly dried up.

Based on the latest Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) weather forecast, areas that will not get rain for 30 days or more are Buleleng, western Jembrana regency in western Bali and southern Denpasar. The BMKG also forecast that rain would not fall for at least 60 days in Buleleng, Bangli, Jembrana, southern Badung regency and popular tourist spots such as Kuta, Tuban, Jimbaran and Pecatu.

Sutopo said the dry season would be prolonged and last until the end of the year as a result of the El Niño climate phenomenon affecting the equatorial Pacific region.

“The BMKG predicts that El Niño will affect areas south of the equator. The dry season will be more severe as rainfall will be extremely low until the end of this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, after more than a fortnight of rain, Riau has been hit by hot weather again, followed by the return of hot spots.

“Riau was recently declared free of hot spots thanks to even rainfall across the province. Actually, low and medium intensity rain, followed by lightning and strong winds at noon and in the afternoon remains possible, but the weather will be hot in Riau this week,” Pekanbaru BMKG head Sugarin said on Tuesday.

Based on Pekanbaru BMKG data, satellite images revealed on Tuesday morning that there were 20 hot spots in four regencies. The majority were in Indragiri Hulu regency, where 10 hot spots were detected, followed by Kampar with four.

Three hot spots were detected in both Kuantan Sengingi and Pelalawan regencies. “There are indications that 12 of the hot spots are land and forest fires. We are 70 percent certain of this. Actually, two hot spots were detected Kampar, Kuantan Sengingi and Pelalawan, plus five in Indragiri Hulu,” said Sugarin.

“On Monday morning, a hot spot was detected in Riau, that is in Pelalawan, while in the afternoon seven were found — three in Kampar, three in Kuantan Sengingi and one in Indragiri Hulu — while three fire spots were detected in Kampar and one in Kuantan Sengingi,” he added.

In Sumatra, 94 hot spots have been detected in Jambi, followed by South Sumatra (75), Bangka Belitung (15) and West Sumatra, Bengkulu and Lampung (three each) and North Sumatra with one.

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Indonesian navy marine corps successfully plant one million coral reefs

Antara 18 Aug 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Navys Marine Corps successfully concluded the "Save Our Littoral Life" movement of planting one million coral reefs to mark the 70th anniversary of Indonesias independence on August 17.

"I very much endorse this program because it is in line with our strategic policy of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis," President Jokowi said, while officially launching the "Save Our Littoral Life" program during a teleconference from the State Palace in Jakarta on August 15.

He said he believed that the coral reef planting campaign had helped support the governments maritime axis program.

The video teleconference was broadcast live in three cities, notably Sabang (Aceh Province), to represent western Indonesia; Manado (North Sulawesi Province) for Central Indonesia; and in Ambon (Maluku Province) for eastern Indonesia.

Simultaneously, coral reef planting activities were carried out at Gapang beach in Sabang on the Weh Island, Aceh Province in western Indonesia; at the Malayang beach in Manado (North Sulawesi) for central Indonesia; and in Ambon, Maluku Province, for eastern Indonesia, on August 15.

Under the "Save Our Littoral Life" campaign, the Marine Corps had set a target of planting one million coral reefs over an area of 100 hectares spread across 51 locations, and through 243 planting sites. The re-planting program began in May 2015.

Jokowi said two-thirds of Indonesian territory comprised of waters that must be protected and preserved because they had natural resource potential that could promise a better future and prosperity for the public.

"Underwater vegetation, particularly coral reef and its ecosystem, must be protected and preserved, because coral reefs act as a habitat for various fish, where they play, look for food, and reproduce," he said.

The President urged people across the nation to share the responsibility of protecting and preserving the marine ecosystem as a source of life and foreign exchange for the state in the future.

In Ambon, Maluku Governor Said Assagaff, local officials and 200 divers consisting of marines and marine lovers, planted coral reefs on the Tapal Kuda beach in Ambon Bay, Maluku, on August 15.

"I am very proud that I could experience diving in Ambon waters, along with some marines and the diving community. Ambon had been selected as one of the three cities for the save coral reef program, which was broadcast live by SCTV," the governor stated.

Ambon has a number of beautiful diving spots and coral reefs are significant assets of Ambons marine tourism industry.

The coral reef planting activity in Ambon was carried out 9.5 meters to 14 meters deep underwater. The marines also released fingerlings in the waters.

Local fishermen aboard some 100 traditional boats, which were decorated, among other things with the national red-and-white flags, also took part in the "Save Our Littoral Life" in Ambon. They played traditional musical instruments to encourage the divers.

The Commander of the Fleet Defense IX battalion in Ambon, Marine Major Trio Frederamsy Sumantri, said a total of 125,000 coral reefs were be planted in Ambon.

"The process will continue. We will communicate with the University of Pattimura, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), and the maritime affairs and fisheries office in Ambon, to restore the damaged coral reefs," Major Trio remarked.

On Aceh Provinces Weh Island, some 200 Marine Corps divers planted coral reefs across 1.2 hectares in Sabang, the Commander of the Infantry Battalion-8, Major Gede Edy Supryadi, said in Sabang.

Sabang was chosen as the location for the program because most of its coral reefs were damaged during the deadly 2004 tsunami.

Supryadi also expressed hope that the replanting of the coral reefs would help boost marine tourism in Aceh.

Moreover, the Marine Corps held an underwater flag hoisting ceremony on August 17, with Rear Admiral Taufiqoerrachman officiating as the inspector and Lieutenant Colonel Sulaksana acting as the Commander.

In Manado, some 500 divers, mostly marines and local inhabitants, planted coral reefs and released five thousand grouper fingerlings at the Malalayang beach.

In the East Java Province, the marines planted some 10 thousand coral reefs out of 17 thousand, in waters 15 meters deep near the Sine beach, Tulungagung.

In Jayapura, Papua, 8,000 coral reefs were planted by 70 divers in the Yos Sudarso waters, near an empty isle in Youtefa Bay, at a depth of seven meters.

"The marines have planted some 10,136 coral reefs in Papua and the West Papua province," Lt. Col. Sunardi said.

Indonesia remains the global center of marine biodiversity in the world, with its diverse marine ecosystem that includes more than 500 species of coral, and at least 3,000 species of fish.

From May to July 2015, the Marine Corps had planted some 400,000 coral reefs over an area of 30 hectares at a number of beaches, including the Labuhan beach in Lamongan, the Bama beach in Sidoarjo, and near the Pramuka isle on Seribu Islands, as well as along the coasts of Kelapa Rapet, Klaura, Ketapang, Kelagian, and Lembing.
(T.F001/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

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South Korea: Red tide threatens southern coast

The Korea Herald 17 Aug 15;

Hundreds of thousands of fish were found dead due to the red tide along the southern coast of the country, drawing ecological concerns over the algal bloom, provincial officials said Monday.

More than 330,000 sea breams, rockfish and other species raised in an aqua farm in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province have died to the red tide, they said. Over 1.2 million are being raised in the two-hectare fish farm in the coastal city.

The dead fish were reported four days after the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute issued a red tide warning in the coast around Geoje and Goheung-gun in South Jeolla Province. This was the first red tide warning issued across the country this year.

The red tide, which is a type of algal bloom, produces natural toxins and depletes dissolved oxygen, killing the fish. It commonly occurs in coastal areas.

A warning is raised when the red tide occurs with a radius of over 5 kilometers and the concentration of cochlodinium exceeding 1,000 cells per milliliter. The government issues a red tide advisory when readings over 300 cells per milliliter are detected with a radius of 2 to 5 kilometers.

Chochlodinium, the culprit of the red tide, is known to proliferate in the sea at temperatures over 25 degrees Celsius.

The rising water temperature contributed to the red tide growth, the NFRD said. According to the organization, the average water temperature of the Korean coast has risen by 1.29 degrees Celsius over the past four decades.

The warning was also raised in the coastal city of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province on Thursday last week.

About 5.5 million fish are being raised in a 197-hectare fish farm in Yeosu, which is equivalent to 170 billion won ($144 million) of property. Last year, over 43,000 fish in Yeosu died to red tide, causing 70 million won in losses, officials said.

“The level of the red tide is falling thanks to the cloudy weather, but it can go up again once the sun gets stronger,” the Yeosu City Government said.

Red tide concerns have been escalating as it has been seen expanding to the East Sea.

On Saturday, the NFRD issued a red tide advisory in the coastal areas of Gyeongju and Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province.

As part of efforts to eliminate the algal bloom, municipalities have been spraying red clay in coastal waters with hundreds of ships. The red clay is known to soak up the minerals and minute plankton, thereby sinking the red tide algae toward the bottom of the sea. They have also used the propellers of fishing boats to deconcentrate the red tide.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)

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